Coach Scheib predicts tight basketball season

The Valley League basketball season will be exciting if the opening week is any indication.

The Bulldogs lost in overtime to Mt. Carmel by 2 points and beat Oceanside by 2 points in a white knuckler. Both games were in the Dawg House.

“The league should be tight and the games will be close,” Ramona coach Ken Scheib said after his Dawgs beat Oceanside 55-53. “San Marcos and Westview are the favorites, but the rest of the league will be a dog fight.”

The Ramona Bulldogs proved that the old cliché is correct. It is not the size of the Bulldog in the fight that counts. It is the size of the fight in the Bulldog that counts.

Ramona gave away size and experience to the Mt. Carmel Sundevils in the opening game of the Valley League and lost 49-47 in the Dawg House.

Mt. Carmel scored first, taking a 4-0 lead, and the Bulldogs chased the Sundevils all night until they tied the game at 45 with 10 seconds left in regulation.

Mt. Carmel scored first in the four-minute OT period and the Dawgs tied them at 47. The Mount scored with 42 seconds remaining in OT. Ramona had two chances to tie the score when they gained possession with 18 seconds left in OT and again with 1.8 seconds left on the clock.

Bryson Garcia led all scorers and rebounders as the 6’5 junior post player scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to turn in a double-double. In addition, Garcia blocked three shots.

Garlan Marshall also scored in double digits as he contributed 10 points and hauled down six rebounds.

Jordan Wylie made the most of his first start of the season, playing well at point guard. Wylie scored 5 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished off three assists.

Every available Bulldog scored in the game. Sean Jennings scored 2 points and had five rebounds. Travis Stevens hauled in five boards and scored 7 points. Adam Watson (3), Sean Leahy (3) and Chris Durham (2) also scored for the Dawgs.

Ramona came from behind to beat Oceanside 55-53 by way of a fourth quarter rally.

“We were out of synch early but we came together in the final period,” said Scheib. “We started running our offense and made the extra pass and found the open man. We played well on defense all night.”

Scheib also had praise for four players he brought up from the junior varsity: Chris Durham, Sean Jennings, Travis Stevens and Jordan Wylie.

“They came up without much practice and played very well,” he said. “I am proud of the way the entire team supported one another, especially in the Mt. Carmel game.”

The Oceanside win was a team effort. Four Bulldogs came off the bench and scored in double figures.

Andrew Alcaraz scored 11 points, hit one 3-point goal, and had four rebounds and two steals. Josh Leiber also connected for 11 points and had two steals.

Jared Engler scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Zach Windes score 10 points and grabbed four boards. Garcia score 4 points and had four boards. Watson (2) and Stevens (3) also scored in the win.

The Dawgs lost a nonleague game to Hilltop High School 67-37. Engler led the team with 10 points. Scheib (6), Windes (6), Alcaraz (4), Marshall (3), Leiber (3) Wolf (2) and Watson (2) also scored in the game.